The Atlas Music Group just signed Eddie and Alex Van Halen to a worldwide publishing administration deal. The publishing deal is for Van Halen’s entire music catalog, excluding the band’s last album entitled A Different Kind of Truth. Atlas Music Group CEO, Rich Stumpf, spoke to Billboard magazine about its new deal with Van Halen. “This deal has been a long time coming. I have been after Irvin Azoff [manager for the Van Halen brothers] and Peter Paterno [the brothers' lawyer] for five years, to find out if there would ever be an opportunity to work with the Van Halen catalog,” Stumpf told Billboard. He continued, “They are my favorite all-time band so this is kind of a surreal moment where my professional and personal lives are coming together.”

Stumpf also said Van Halen is the most important band the company has ever signed, since it was launched in 2013. “It speaks volumes that after being with one company for thirty years that they have chosen to move to an independent music publisher. This [deal] is an important moment not just for us but for the independent music publishing community,” Stumpf stated to Billboard.

The CEO said he is really looking forward to getting Van Halen’s music in films, television, and commercials. “This is a premium catalog, so we will look for the right films and brand advertisers to place their music with,” Stumpf told Billboard. Atlas Music Group is hoping to reach younger consumers with Van Halen’s music. “That is how you maintain the value of the [legendary artists] catalog by reaching the younger generations that come along,” the CEO stated. He added, “A lot of the decision makers themselves are young so we will have to educate them on the importance of Van Halen, and not just their many hits.”

Now that Atlas Music Group has added Van Halen to their roster, the company’s catalog has increased to 4,000 songs. Last year, Atlas and Nashville publisher, Combustion Music, created a joint-venture. That joint-venture increased Atlas Music Group’s team to 25-30 active songwriters, and the publishing company currently has fifteen staff members in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.

Van Halen Goes With Indie Atlas For Music Publishing February 18, 2015 at 1:28 PM (PT)

Richard Stumpf: A Van Halen Fan

EDDIE and ALEX VANHALEN of heavy metal titans VAN HALEN have signed an exclusive worldwide deal with ATLAS MUSIC PUBLISHING, according to CEO RICHARD STUMPF.

The agreement covers the entire VAN HALEN catalog (excluding the most recent album), and includes multiple hit singles and albums that have collectively sold close to 90 million copies worldwide. The landmark deal marks the first time the band’s music has been published by an independent music publishing company.

Commented STUMPF: “VAN HALEN were the reason I first became an avid music fan, so it is both professionally and personally humbling to have ED and AL join the ATLAS family. Not many can say they defined a sound that would change the course of rock history. We are honored that these musical pioneers have chosen us to represent their songs for years to come. We will help ensure that new generations of music listeners are keenly aware of just how important VAN HALEN is to the music world and how incredible their songwriting is. Nobody combines melody and musicianship like ED and AL.”

Through the agreement, ATLAS MUSIC PUBLISHING will now administer such all-time favorites as: “Everybody Wants Some!,” “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Hot For Teacher,” “Unchained,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Panama,” “Jump,” “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love,” and “Eruption,” among many more.

I thought he was removed from all of the credits, but apparently it was only on 1984. I guess we’ll find out in a month or so if his name is still listed on the first album. If it’s not, I’m sure it will be a safe bet that he was removed from the rest of the catalog.

The Pulse Of Radio has issued the following report from Don Kaye: VAN HALEN may have restored former bassist Michael Anthony’s photos to the album cover art on the band’s official web site, but it seems the group is still trying to remove Anthony from its history. According to AntiMusic.com, Anthony’s name has been taken off the writing credits for some of the group’s music. An email to the site from a Van Halen fan explained, “On every single Van Halen song (with exception to the three new songs on the Best Of Both Worlds compilation), credits have always gone to Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and the lead singer who is featured on the song… However, during the credits of the film Superbad, which features the song ‘Panama’, the song is only credited to the two Van Halens and (David Lee) Roth! Anthony continues to get snubbed by his former band as they attempt to erase him from the history of the band.” AntiMusic checked the ASCAP database and learned that Anthony’s name has been removed from the songwriting credits of the album 1984, on which ‘Panama’ originally appeared, although apparently he still gets credit on other Van Halen releases. Anthony was reportedly forced to sign a reduced royalty contract in order to take part in the 2004 reunion tour with singer SAMMY HAGAR, according to Wikipedia.org. Anthony also apparently did not play on the three songs recorded for the Best Of Both Worlds collection. A furor erupted online last week after photos of Anthony at the band’s official web site were either removed or replaced by an image of guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang, who will play bass on the group’s upcoming tour. The photos were restored less than two days later. Van Halen announced the details of its long-awaited reunion tour with original singer David Lee Roth last Monday (August 13th). The tour kicks off on September 27th in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pre-recorded tapes will reportedly be used to recreate Anthony’s backing vocals on the tour.”